Classes start today. A comfortingly familiar cycle starts over again for almost the last time. I know how this works, how groups form into classes, how small talk in and out of class flows, and how professors will endeavor to temper their classes. It's all very comfortable and predictable.
But here I am, finishing up the book of Hebrews, and once again being pushed out of my comfort zone by another of Paul's exhortations from the Lord:
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but seek the city that is yet to come (Heb 13:11-14).
It is so very easy for me to become comfortable in a little enclave of happy Christians. It is something many of us struggle with up here on this mountain in the middle of Georgia where we are given the gospel wherever we go. It is such a beautiful blessing to be able to live with so many like-minded young Christians and to be tutored and counseled by professors who love the Lord and have made it their occupation to show him to us in the context of their passions, but then we just stay up here, enjoying the gospel, never setting our feet outside the gate.
So here's a goal of mine for this coming semester: find the gate, and get outside of it.
But here I am, finishing up the book of Hebrews, and once again being pushed out of my comfort zone by another of Paul's exhortations from the Lord:
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but seek the city that is yet to come (Heb 13:11-14).
It is so very easy for me to become comfortable in a little enclave of happy Christians. It is something many of us struggle with up here on this mountain in the middle of Georgia where we are given the gospel wherever we go. It is such a beautiful blessing to be able to live with so many like-minded young Christians and to be tutored and counseled by professors who love the Lord and have made it their occupation to show him to us in the context of their passions, but then we just stay up here, enjoying the gospel, never setting our feet outside the gate.
So here's a goal of mine for this coming semester: find the gate, and get outside of it.
No comments :
Post a Comment